It was such a fine day. I was walking around the city until I ended up going to “that” place. The old abandoned park. This park holds such memories with ‘’her’’. I miss you so much, more than you could ever think of.
Criszelle and I were happily strolling around, hand in hand. We were so happy that we didn’t care about anything except for our love and for each other.
‘’Dutch, can we go to the park?’’ Criszelle asked me softly.
‘’Of course, anything for you my Duchess’’ I gently answered while a cheeky smile appeared on my face.
Hearing my answer, her face lit up with a happy expression. We began heading to the park, not the local park where many couples and people crowded around, but the old abandoned park. It’s our favorite place, even though it’s old and abandoned, the view and scenery is very beautiful, I don’t get why the people here abandoned its beauty. But on the brighter side, we can own this place and mark it as our own.
We arrived shortly at the park and sat on the bench. Criszelle leaned her head onto my shoulder as I put my arm around her and held her hand in mine.
Suddenly, her grip on my hand tightened, ‘’Dutch’’ she called me with her sweet and soft voice.
‘’hmm..?’’ I responded.
‘’What would you do if I leave you?’’ she asked out of the blue. I was clearly taken aback by her sudden question. I know she won’t ask things like this without reason.
‘’Why do you ask …?’’ I shot a question back at her, clearly curious of why she asked that question.
‘’Just asking, so what will you do?” she muttered and asked again.
“I, I don’t know, I really don’t know what I will do if you leave me.” I answered in a very scared tone. I really don’t know what I will do if she leaves me; just thinking about it makes me feel really scared. “But you won’t leave me, right?” I nervously asked as I impatiently waited for her answer. I tilted my head to look at her and met her eyes. Her eyes seemed to express... uncertainty. She broke the eye contact as she shifted her head avoiding my gaze.
“Hmm” She replied and nodded her head quickly and smiled sweetly at me. I smiled back at her and soon enough I realized that it was getting late so I gently moved her head out of my shoulder and stood up, she looked at me with a confused expression written in her face
“It’s getting late Duchess, let’s go home, okay?” I told her while I smiled, as much as I don’t want to part ways with her, she has to rest and so do I. She smiled at me, which probably meant “Okay” so I grabbed and intertwined our fingers together. I dragged her gently out of the park.
“I’ll walk you home” I exclaimed. She chuckled at my statement
“You always do” she murmured.
After walking her to her apartment, we stopped in front of the gate. She gave me a peck on the lips before saying goodbye and walked away happily but her question still remained on my mind. I shrugged it off and continued walking towards my house.
...................
*Ring. Ring. Ring*
My phone rang in the middle of the night. “
Why would call me this late at night?” I grabbed my phone and answered the call.
“Hello?” I muttered to the phone with a tone of sleepiness slightly hinting in my voice.
“Hi, Steven?” a female voice called; there was a hint of nervousness and worry in her voice.
“Yes this is Steven, who is this?” I replied to the mysterious voice.
“This is Kate, Criszelle’s sister” the voice introduced herself.
“Oh Kate, it’s you, why? what’s wrong?” I asked her.
“It’s about Criszelle” she blurted out; I could already hear her cry.
“What’s wrong with Criszelle?” I worriedly asked. I have a very bad feeling about this.
Kate began to explain what happened. After the explanation, I dropped my phone onto the ground with widened eyes and stood up from my bed and dressed up quickly. I ran away to my car as fast as I can and drove away. Tears welled up on my eyes as I made my way to the hospital.
Why? Why?
Suddenly her sister’s words began to repeat in my mind:
“Criszelle... Criszelle is sick and in the verge of dying” Kate sobbed at the phone.
Lingering at the thoughts of Criszelle dying makes my tears finally escape my eyes. Once I arrived at the hospital. I parked my car to the nearest slot available and ran inside.
“Where’s the room 104?” I asked the receptionist.
“It’s on the 2nd floor on the right corner” She answered immediately maybe because she felt my uneasiness. I thanked her and made my way on the 2nd floor in a fast pace, not minding the people I bumped into. I finally reached the door making people’s head turned to me. I saw Kate crying hard, beside her was Criszelle’s lifeless figure lying on the bed. I was too late. I walked towards Criszelle’s body, this time my tears flowed on my face rapidly. I reached the edge of her bed and knelt down on the floor while holding her hand.
“So this is what you meant by leaving?” I whispered to her lifeless body with my head hung low. I cried harder and harder until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Kate, she clenched her hand tightly and handed me something.
I took a peek at it.
“A paper…?” I took it and I asked what and who it was from. “It’s from Criszelle, she asked me to give it to you if you arrived.” she implied while hearing her sniff. I let go of Criszelle’s hand and read the words scribbled on the paper.
“Hey My Dutch, if you’re reading this, Dutch I’m sorry that I didn’t fulfill our promise to not leave each other’s side. I’m really sorry Dutch, even though our time together was short, I treasured every single second of it. I sometimes wished though that we could make more memories, but I couldn’t care about that wish anymore since the day you became mine. I didn’t regret even once that I love you, even if we already got into many fights we still stuck out to each other till the end. Dutch, even if we live in many other lives I will always love you and only you. I’m sorry if I kept my illness from you but that doesn’t mean I love you any less. I’m so thankful that you came into my life. But now you have to move on with your life. Yet always remember that I love you forever and ever”
After I read the letter, I couldn’t control it anymore I cried at my hardest state. I stared at her body once again and softly whispered which my voice is barely audible “I love you until my very own life runs out.
A tear escaped my eyes as I reminisce that moment. I walked away from the park and led myself onto Criszelle’s grave, praying for her. I stood up straight after I ended my prayer and spoke to myself “Wait for me, Criszelle Dizon I love you.”
After muttering those significant three words, I turned my back and walked away, remembering the precious memories I shared with her.
